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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Alim Kheraj

Taylor Swift’s obsession with self-mythologising makes for boring art

All that glitters... Swift in the music video for ‘Opalite’ - (Republic Records/Universal Music Group)

When Taylor Swift unveiled the music video for her latest single “Opalite” on Friday, it was pretty much guaranteed there’d be a few easter eggs in store. Because when it comes to the world’s biggest pop star, nothing – from the colour of her nail polish to the jewellery she wears on the red carpet – is a coincidence.

With “Opalite” starring Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lewis Capaldi, Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, it quickly became apparent that Swift had recruited her fellow guests and their host from an October 2025 episode of The Graham Norton Show, in which she appeared to promote her latest album The Life of a Showgirl. Beyond that, the myriad articles, TikToks and Reddit threads shared in the past few days have pointed out clues hiding in the props, the posters in the background, the messages on the friendship bracelets…

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